Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr Peru Dayag SVD – University of San Carlos, Cebu City
Wednesday 6th Week in Ordinary Time
When Fanny Crosby (who became blind since infancy but was able to compose about 9,000 songs) was asked what gift she would request from a miracle worker, she said: “Nothing, not even sight, so that when I enter heaven the first face that I will see will be that of my Savior.”
In today’s Gospel, a blind man was brought to Jesus. Our Lord did not heal him immediately but took him alone out the village and healed him there. Perhaps, Jesus wanted a personal connection with the blind man. By dealing privately with him, Jesus entered into his mind and heart and restored his human dignity. Remember, the plight of the blind may be full of shame and dishonor. It is interesting to note that when he was able to see, the first face he saw was that of Jesus.
Helen Keller (1880-1960) was once asked if blindness was the worst thing that could befall a person. She answered that it was not to lose his/her sight but to lose his/her vision in life. Records show that Helen Keller became blind and deaf at the age of one year and seven months. However, her physiological defects did not deter her from pursuing her vision. With the help of Anne Sullivan Macy (1886-1936) who was also blind, Helen was able to complete college degree and became an author and internationally celebrated lecturer. Until today, her work is the blueprint for the education of children who are deaf-mute, blind, or visually impaired.
We are fortunate to have the gift of sight, but do we really see? When we hear the word “blind” what we immediately have in mind is a person who is visually impaired or someone who cannot see. I think blind people are not limited to those who cannot see but also those who have no vision in life; those who do not find meaning or purpose in life; those who have not discovered yet their sublime reason for being. They are spiritually blind.
Let us check ourselves if we too are one of them. If we are, then we need healing; we need Jesus. In our spiritual blindness, we miss the beauty and the real meaning of life, and maybe, we live a miserable life as well. For as John Kiley puts it: “Miserable people are not those who are blind but rather those who refuse to see.” Do we really see?
